Tag Archives: super foods

It seems that each week we are introduced to a new Super Food that promises to protect us from any ailment, ache or pain all the while adding years to our life. While many of these Super Foods are familiar to us like blueberries and green tea, there is a whole category that come from distant tropical lands and sport funny names, textures and tastes.

Mangosteen - Super Food

Three new recently-lauded Super Foods are Goji berries, Mangosteen and Noni. Here is a quick look at all three of these and how they compare to the common, but equally powerful, Vitamin C-packed orange.

Gogi berries: These bite-sized reddish berries are somewhat like a raisin in appearance and texture: small, wrinkled and chewy. Gogi berries come from China and Tibet where they have been used for thousands of years to improve eye sight, promote liver function and add to overall health and longevity. Folklore has it that a Chinese man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old (a rather undocumented claim). (more…)

The latest in Super Foods looks a bit more like the Who’s Who list in Hollywood with its revolving door of the best and most nutrient-dense natural eats. One of the current super stars is the acai berry which comes from Central and Latin America. Tasting like a cross between red wine and chocolate, the acai berry boasts a plethora of disease-fighting antioxidants as well as amino acids, fiber and essential fatty acids. This A-lister fruit has food and supplement manufacturers creating product after product that contains its magic ingredients.

But what about other supposed Super Foods, like blueberries, raspberries and green tea? Does the acai berry push them a few rungs down on the Super Food ladder? No, says Ed Runz, a columnist for the Daily Herald. He and other health experts warn against being a Super Food monogamist and instead continue to focus on getting your nutrients from a variety of fruits and veggies. Eating your broccoli, even though it may not be as exotic as sipping a tropical acai berry smoothie is just as important and beneficial to your health as making these newer Super Foods a mainstay of your diet.

From acai to pomegranates to green tea, researchers are quickly unearthing some of Mother Nature’s most powerful and nutrient-dense foods. Now the next treasure to be “discovered” out of the Amazon Rain Forest is Aguaje (pronounced ag-wah-hey), a brightly-colored yellow fruit encased in a scaly burgundy shell. Tasting a bit like a carrot, the aguaje packs about three times the Vitamin A punch as its bunny-beloved counterpart. (more…)

The October Featured Guest Blogger of the Month, for October, are two talented ladies from ChewOnThat Blog. They’re two foodies who can’t help but share their knowledge of and love for the edible everyday on their blog. They’ve always got an engaging anecdote as to why this or that recipe warms their heart, and the recipes are always a hit! Tune in every Tuesday in October to hear what Maxine and Hillary are chewing talking about!

Chew on That here again! I hope you’re enjoying your fall full of tasty ingredients. Maybe you’ve even added some new apple recipes to your repertoire! To continue our agenda of fall ingredients, this week we’re going to focus on cranberries.

Though termed a berry, the cranberry is unlike any of its summer berry counterparts. For one thing, it reigns at a different time of year, harvested in late September and early October, and widely consumed throughout the fall and winter months. The other distinction of the cranberry is its flavor. While most other berries can be eaten alone, cranberries are too tart to be eaten out of hand which is why they’re usually boiled into compotes or baked into all sorts of fall desserts.(more…)

A makeover for your body, skin and hair? Hmm… I’m intrigued. That is what the Revival Diet is all about. But here’s an important FYI for you: The website address is the Revival Diet, but the actual diet name is Dr. Tabor’s Slim and Beautiful Diet.

So what is this inside-out beauty and weight loss regimen all about? The plan itself is a bit confusing to follow. You’ll choose from a list of products like Dr. Tabor’s signature line of snacks, entrees, and protein shakes and create your own meal plan. You’re given some estimated, but by no means precise, guidelines to follow. For instance, you should consume about 1,200 calories a day, but you can “eat a piece of fruit” or “have a sensible dinner” in order to meet these calorie requirements on the Makeover Package. All of Dr. Tabor’s foods do come with their own nutrition information so there is no guesswork in your calculations if you are just going to limit yourself to eating his products.

I had the recent opportunity to test out some of his “non naughty nibbles.” These crackers come in a variety of flavors like “smaller belt bbq,” and “smaller ring size ranch,” and are made of potato starch and soy protein. They taste like a cross between a cracker and a soy chip and they look like Crispix, the rice and corn cereal duo by Kellogg’s. I was a bit surprised by how much of a spicy punch they packed, especially for the ranch flavor. Each bag contains 100 calories and seven grams of protein. They are definitely crunchy and they quelled my salt-need.

I haven’t sampled any of his beauty products like digestive enzymes, calcium and complete vitamin and mineral supplements.

Each of Dr. Tabor’s foods have quite a unique name to them which makes eating them a bit more entertaining. And his foods are nutritionally-balanced and many of his shakes, bars and snack foods contain soy, an ingredient that Dr. Tabor feels is a true Superfood.

Melissa Spiesman, CHHC, AADP, will be the Featured Guest Blogger at DietsInReview.com for September. She is the director of Nutrition for Your Life, a nutrition program that focuses on health and wellness through whole foods. Melissa develops individual integrative nutrition plans that focus on the total health of her clients. In her private practice, she regularly counsels individuals and groups on a variety of health/nutrition issues, including: cravings, weight loss and management, healthy food preparation, coping with stress, and having more energy.

Melissa received her professional training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition which is affiliated with Columbia University in New York City. She is certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

Melissa is a featured contributor of girlawhirl.com. Girlawhirl.com is an online magazine for busy women. It’s updated every weekday with the latest fashion and beauty news, home decorating, nutrition, fitness advice and more.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to snack on blueberries (the whole pint), my favorite breakfast and comfort food is thick and creamy, very hot oatmeal and my side dish of choice is sweet potatoes-roasted, fried, hot or cold. There were no classifications of super foods or conversations about their health benefits, but I do believe in the power of food, good food is necessary for good health and what you eat significantly impacts how you feel.

Can eating the right foods actually help prevent disease? Scientists have identified chemicals in many nutrient dense foods that can prevent or reduce the risk of disease and many of these foods may be lacking in the standard American diet. Whole foods contain a unique combination of nutrients, vitamins and minerals which make them a better source for these compounds than supplements.

While there is a long list of SUPER FOODS, the one thing they all have in common is that they are all WHOLE FOODS. These nutritional power houses can be used as the foundation for healthy eating. Eating a diet rich in whole foods is a diet rich in super foods. These are MY 3 super foods:

Blueberries:
Mixed into plain yogurt, blueberries offer a sweet alternative to the over sugared commercial products available. Blueberries contain the antioxidant compound anthocyanins which reduce free radicals, improve memory and cognition and can lower cholesterol. This colorful sweet fruit is also low in calories and full of fiber.
The frozen variety is delicious blended into smoothies or in your favorite muffin mix.

Oats:
Not just for breakfast anymore, oatmeal can be enjoyed as an addition to cookies, muffins and cake batter, in your own homemade granola or to add texture to a savory loaf. Known for its cholesterol lowering effects due to its high level of soluble fiber, oatmeal is also low in fat, contains more healthy oils than any other grain and is high in protein. Oats are also low on the glycemic index, so diabetics and those with insulin resistance will benefit from their ability to stabilize blood sugar.

Sweet Potatoes/Squash:
Pumpkins and sweet potatoes have drifted beyond their traditional place as autumn holiday staples. These hearty vegetables are an excellent source of beta carotene the antioxidant that converts to Vitamin A in the body and gives these super foods their bright color. They are rich in calcium and support healthy skin. The lutein and lycopene found in orange colored produce can also reduce the risk for macular degeneration. The sweet satisfying flavor of these rich vegetables will help curb sugar cravings. For a change in texture and color, puree these vegetables into soups or as an addition to oatmeal cookie dough for an extra boost of sweetness.

Using simple whole food nutrition you can ensure a healthy life, and by eating well you can reduce the risk of disease.

Guest Blog Series: Look for the following badge on your favorite health sites to see if they have been a featured guest blogger on DietsInReview.com.

Any healthy diet should include a rich variety of foods from all groups to ensure you’re giving your body all of the nutrients it needs. Bob Greene, creator of the Best Life Diet, recommends these five Super Foods. He says while all foods provide vitamins and minerals, these little gems should appear on your plate as often as possible.

1. Olive Oil
Ditch your old cooking oil and switch to Olive Oil. It can raise the good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol, has a light and delicious flavor and can be used to cook nearly every meal you make. Request your food be cooked in olive oil at restaurants.

2. Soy
Countries like the U.S. who eat an animal-fat rich diet are more likely to have cancer. Soy is an ideal source of protein, is easy to prepare and can take on the flavor of anything you want. Best of all, it can decrease your chance of heart disease or cancer.

3. Mushrooms
Grill them, bake them, put them in a soup, pasta, salad or kabob- any way you slice them, mushrooms are good to eat and good for you. They are packed with antioxidants, potassium and Vitamin B.

4. Walnuts, almonds and nut butters

While the calorie count might be high in nuts, they offer healthy fats, protein and fiber. Eat a handful of nuts as a snack or enjoy an almond butter sandwich for lunch. You’ll be amazed at all the nutrients such a small food can provide.

5. Eggs

The egg is one of the most versatile foods and has been one of the most controversial. No longer is the egg our enemy. Eggs promote eye health, contain 6g protein, 9 amino acids and 5g of “good fat”, actually work to prevent stroke and heart disease and provide Vitamin D.

Learn more about Super Foods from the original Super Foods list from Dr. Steven Pratt.

The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to starting any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime.